Today is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
11:03, 25 November 2009
.. Posted in Development, Relief and Advocacy Efforts.. Link
Today is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, as designated by the United Nations General Assembly.
Why is this day needed? Consider this:
- Violence against women is the most common but least punished crime in the world.
- It is estimated that between 113 million and 200 million women are demographically "missing." They have been the victims of infanticide (boys are preferred to girls) or have not received the same amount of food and medical attention as their brothers and fathers.
- Worldwide, 40-70% of all female murder victims are killed by an intimate partner.
- The number of women forced or sold into prostitution is estimated worldwide at anywhere between 700,000 and 4,000,000 per year. Profits from sex slavery are estimated at seven to twelve billion US dollars per year.
- Globally, women between the age of fifteen and forty-four are more likely to be maimed or die as a result of male violence than through cancer, malaria, traffic accidents or war combined.
- At least one out of every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Usually, the abuser is a member of her own family or someone known to her. Domestic violence is the largest form of abuse of women worldwide, irrespective of region, culture, ethnicity, education, class and religion.
- Women are victims of violence in approximately 95% of the cases of domestic violence.
- It is estimated that more than two million girls are genitally mutilated per year, a rate of one girl every fifteen seconds.
- Systematic rape is used as a weapon of terror in many of the world's conflicts. It is estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 women in Rwanda were raped during the 1994 genocide.
- Studies show the increasing links between violence against women and HIV and demonstrate that HIV-infected women are more likely to have experienced violence, and that victims of violence are at higher risk of HIV infection.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Get involved this year and make a difference by:
- Educating yourself regarding violence against women, both in your local area, in your nation and worldwide.
- Researching all of the resources specifically to your geographic area regarding addressing and preventing violence against women, and be ready to refer friends, family, colleagues and others, as needed.
- Speak out regarding your local, regional and national officials taking action to protect women from and punishing acts of violence by state and non-state actors, including family and community members. Speak out in letters to these officials, letters to the editor of local newspapers, calling in local talk shows, and talking to friends, family and colleagues.
- Intervene to prevent and report acts of violence against women (as your own safety allows).
- Challenge societal gender-related power imbalances as you encounter them. (Brothers, speak up for your sisters! Fathers, speak up for your daughters!)
- See these 2009 16 Days Take Action Kit and follow their suggestions for action.
